Vehicular suspension system

Abstract

A vehicular suspension system having at least one pair of shock absorbers. Each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin. The lower port of a first shock absorber of the pair is fluidly connected to the upper port of a second shock absorber of the pair via a first fluid line. Similarly, the lower port of the second shock absorber is fluidly connected to the upper port of the first shock absorber via a second fluid line.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a vehicular suspension system having at least one pair of shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising: fluidly connecting the lower port of a first shock absorber of the pair to the upper port of a second shock absorber of the pair via a first fluid line; and   fluidly connecting the lower port of the second shock absorber to the upper port of the first shock absorber via a second fluid line;   a valve member which is fluidly connected to the first and second fluid lines, and is selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the lower port of the first shock absorber and the upper port of the second shock absorber, and between the lower port of the second shock absorber and the upper port of the first shock absorber when the valve member is in the closed position;   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the first shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the second shock absorber when the valve member is in the open position; and     an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said valve member and adapted to facilitate the selective actuation thereof between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       2. The vehicular suspension system of claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid lines are each fabricated from flexible hydraulic tubing. 
     
     
       3. The vehicular suspension system of claim 1 wherein said first and second fluid lines are each fabricated from rigid pipe. 
     
     
       4. The vehicular suspension system of claim 1 wherein the first and second fluid lines each include a fluid accumulator connected thereto. 
     
     
       5. The vehicular suspension system of claim 4 wherein the fluid accumulator comprises a pressurized gas accumulator. 
     
     
       6. The vehicular suspension system of claim 1 wherein the interior chamber of each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a segregated section which is filled with a pressurized gas. 
     
     
       7. The vehicular suspension system of claim 6 wherein the segregated section is defined between the top end of the housing and the upper port. 
     
     
       8. A vehicular suspension system having two pairs of shock absorbers including right front, left front, right rear and left rear shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising the achievement of roll control in the suspension system by: fluidly connecting the lower port of the right front shock absorber to the upper port of the left front shock absorber via the first fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left front shock absorber to the upper port of the right front shock absorber via the second fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the right rear shock absorber to the upper port of the left rear shock absorber via a third fluid line; and   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left rear shock absorber to the upper port of the right rear shock absorber via a fourth fluid line;   a first valve member which is fluidly connected to the first and second fluid lines and a second valve member which is fluidly connected to the third and fourth fluid lines, said first and second valve members being selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the left front shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left front shock absorber and the upper port of the right front shock absorber when the first valve member is in the closed position;   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left front shock absorber when the first valve member is in the open position;   fluid flows between the lower port of the right rear shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left rear shock absorber and the upper port of the right rear shock absorber when the second valve member is in the closed position; and   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right rear shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left rear shock absorber when the second valve member is in the open position; and     an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said first and second valve members and adapted to facilitate the selective actuation of the first and second valve members between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       9. A vehicular suspension system having two pairs of shock absorbers including right front, left front, right rear and left rear shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising the achievement of pitch control in the suspension system by: fluidly connecting the lower port of the right front shock absorber to the upper port of the right rear shock absorber via the first fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the right rear shock absorber to the upper port of the right front shock absorber via the second fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left front shock absorber to the upper port of the left rear shock absorber via a third fluid line; and   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left rear shock absorber to the upper port of the left front shock absorber via a fourth fluid line;   a first valve member which is fluidly connected to the first and second fluid lines and a second valve member which is fluidly connected to the third and fourth fluid lines, said first and second valve members being selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the right rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the right rear shock absorber and the upper port of the right front shock absorber when the first valve member is in the closed position;   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the right rear shock absorber when the first valve member is in the open position;   fluid flows between the lower port of the left front shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left rear shock absorber and the upper port of the left front shock absorber when the second valve member is in the closed position; and   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the left front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left rear shock absorber when the second valve member is in the open position; and     an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said first and second valve members and adapted to facilitate the selective actuation of the first and second valve members between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       10. A vehicular suspension system having two pairs of shock absorbers including right front, left front, right rear and left rear shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising the achievement of roll and pitch control in the suspension system by: fluidly connecting the lower port of the right front shock absorber to the upper port of the left rear shock absorber via the first fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left rear shock absorber to the upper port of the right front shock absorber via the second fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left front shock absorber to the upper port of the right rear shock absorber via a third fluid line; and   fluidly connecting the lower port of the right rear shock absorber to the upper port of the left front shock absorber via a fourth fluid line;   a first valve member which is fluidly connected to the first and second fluid lines and a second valve member which is fluidly connected to the third and fourth fluid lines, said first and second valve members being selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left rear shock absorber and the upper port of the right front shock absorber when the first valve member is in the closed position;   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left rear shock absorber when the first valve member is in the open position;   fluid flows between the lower port of the left front shock absorber and the upper port of the right rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the right rear shock absorber and the upper port of the left front shock absorber when the second valve member is in the closed position; and   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the left front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the right rear shock absorber when the second valve member is in the open position; and     an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said first and second valve members and adapted to facilitate the selective actuation of the first and second valve members between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       11. In a vehicular suspension system having two pairs of shock absorbers including right front, left front, right rear and left rear shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising the achievement of roll control in the suspension system by: fluidly connecting the upper port of the right front shock absorber to the upper port of the right rear shock absorber via a first fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the right front shock absorber to the lower port of the right rear shock absorber via a second fluid line;   fluidly connecting the upper port of the left front shock absorber to the upper port of the left rear shock absorber via a third fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the left front shock absorber to the lower port of the left rear shock absorber via a fourth fluid line;   fluidly connecting the first, second, third and fourth fluid lines to a valve member which is selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the first and fourth fluid lines and between the second and third fluid lines when the valve member is in the closed position; and   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right front shock absorber, between the upper and lower ports of the right rear shock absorber, between the upper and lower ports of the left front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left rear shock absorber when the valve member is in the open position; and     an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said valve member and adapted to facilitate the selective activation of the valve member between the open and closed positions.   
     
     
       12. In a vehicular suspension system having two pairs of shock absorbers including right front, left front, right rear and left rear shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the improvement comprising functionality of the suspension system in various modes of operation including an independent suspension mode, a roll control mode, a pitch control mode, and a roll and pitch control mode by: fluidly connecting the upper and lower ports of the right front, right rear, left front and left rear shock absorbers to a valve manifold which is selectively actuatable between first, second, third and fourth positions such that: fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the right front shock absorber, between the upper and lower ports of the right rear shock absorber, between the upper and lower ports of the left front shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the left rear shock absorber when the valve manifold is actuated to the first position;   fluid flows between the upper port of the right front shock absorber and the lower port of the left front shock absorber, between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the left front shock absorber, between the upper port of the right rear shock absorber and the lower port of the left rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the right rear shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber when the valve manifold is actuated to the second position;   fluid flows between the upper port of the right front shock absorber and the lower port of the right rear shock absorber, between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the right rear shock absorber, between the upper port of the left front shock absorber and the lower port of the left rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left front shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber when the valve manifold is actuated to the third position; and   fluid flows between the upper port of the right front shock absorber and the lower port of the left rear shock absorber, between the lower port of the right front shock absorber and the upper port of the left rear shock absorber, between the upper port of the left front shock absorber and the lower port of the right rear shock absorber, and between the lower port of the left front shock absorber and the upper port of the right rear shock absorber when the valve manifold is actuated to the fourth position.     
     
     
       13. The vehicular suspension system of claim 12 further comprising an acceleration sensor electrically connected to said valve manifold and adapted to facilitate the selective actuation thereof between the first, second, third and fourth positions. 
     
     
       14. A method for improving the performance characteristics of a vehicular suspension system having at least one pair of shock absorbers, wherein each of the shock absorbers of the pair includes a housing defining top and bottom ends and a fluid filled interior chamber, upper and lower ports in communication with the interior chamber, and a piston disposed in the interior chamber which is reciprocally movable through upward and downward strokes therewithin, the method comprising the steps of: fluidly connecting the lower port of a first shock absorber of the pair to the upper port of a second shock absorber of the pair via a first fluid line;   fluidly connecting the lower port of the second shock absorber to the upper port of the first shock absorber via a second fluid line; connecting a fluid accumulator to each of the first and second fluid lines;   fluidly connecting a valve member to the first and second fluid lines which is selectively actuatable between open and closed positions such that: fluid flows between the lower port of the first shock absorber and the upper port of the second shock absorber, and between the lower port of the second shock absorber and the upper port of the first shock absorber when the valve member is in the closed position; and   fluid flows between the upper and lower ports of the first shock absorber, and between the upper and lower ports of the second shock absorber when the valve member is in the open position;     electrically connecting an acceleration sensor to the valve member to facilitate the selective actuation thereof between the open and closed positions.